This man is a Roman citizen
Acts 22:23-30; 5/5/2024/2024; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang
Introduction
life in the world, we may be troubled by one question: Who am I, right? The question about who I am must also include who I am, where I am from, etc. Paul was a Roman citizen and one of the subjects of the New Testament. Therefore, the question of how our identity and situation in life relate to God’s salvation was raised. Let’s look at the first point:
Flogged the Roman citizen
When Paul testified about the transformation of his life and his mission, the Jews could no longer remain reserved. First, the dust is flying and the traces of the heart are revealed. When power habits are threatened, self-defense that muddies the waters is more likely to occur. The Jews were accustomed to the laziness of the high priest who was right about everything. Of course they could not accept Paul’s defense. When there are more people, the voice becomes a roar. Tearing clothes, throwing clothes, scattering ashes and spreading dust are traditional Jewish actions to express anger and sadness. Its essence is a social behavior, in order to express a position among the companions and show that one is completely different from the people of Paul’s group, so as not to be reported in the future and said that one seems to sympathize with Paul. This phenomenon is also extremely common in some authoritarian countries, such as China’s Cultural Revolution, Stalin’s liquidation, and Hitler’s killings.
Next, the tribune ordered him to enter. When encountering an incident that makes society uneasy, someone must come out to clean up the mess, and of course, they must also be held responsible for it. The Roman tribune saw that the Jews caused such a commotion because of Paul’s words. Of course he doesn’t understand, but fortunately he has power in his hands. If you don’t use it, it will be in vain. Since Paul standing on the high platform outside would cause such a big commotion, let’s bring him into the barracks! In fact, the tribune can go out and ask the Jews outside, why do you have such high emotions while Paul shares quietly? As a result, instead of asking the commotion of the Jews, the tribune took Paul into the barracks for convenience.
Finally, the whipping test was conducted to find out the reason. Of course, this is the easiest way for the tribune to shirk responsibility. Writing reports to explain the situation in the future is also a common practice in officialdom. Now that the person has been brought into the barracks, it is the tribune‘s authority. I guess asking politely won’t lead to anything. Comparing one’s feelings with one’s own, everyone is afraid of getting beaten, so let’s get beaten! The common method of torture at that time was whipping. It is estimated that such torture was also an effective method to obtain confessions and understand the reasons for the Jewish noise. This mentality and habit has been used for a long time in the long history of mankind, has been passed down widely, and has been passed down to this day. Today, torture and flogging are still the norm in prisons in any country. Let’s look at the second point:
Claimed to be Roman citizen
The Roman Empire at that time had a vast territory, along the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory ran through the three continents of Europe, Asia and Africa. However, becoming a Roman citizen was not an easy task. First, show identity and boundaries. As the saying goes, a man who loses position and influence may be subjected to much indignity. Paul, a famous pastor of a generation, was about to be whipped in a small place like Palestine. Paul was still a Roman citizen. He felt a little embarrassed, right? As a servant of God, if you fall into jail, you should follow the Lord’s will. Even the Lord Jesus Christ was scourged, let alone us? Of course, on the other hand, God is also a God who protects us. He will not allow any harm that He does not allow to happen to us. If Paul’s Roman citizenship was a gift from God to Paul, why not use it? “But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” With a gentle question, the rest of the prayer is left to the Lord.
Second, Centurion stated it has consequences. The first person to hear Paul identify himself was a centurion in the camp. A centurion is equivalent to today’s company commander. It is clear that this centurion is a confidant of the tribune, and his words and deeds reflect care and protection. The Centurion said to the tribune, Do you want to do something stupid? It means, do you want to torture a Roman citizen? Do you know the consequences of torturing a Roman at will? How could the Roman emperor easily allow you to torture a Roman citizen in order to protect his honor? It seems that this tribune is good at managing the army, and his centurion protects his commander from the bottom of his heart. Otherwise, he could have feigned ignorance and allowed the consequences of flogging Paul to befall the tribune.
Finally, the tribune couldn’t believe it. The bible says, “So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” Obviously, the tribune couldn’t believe it! Why? How could he, a Jew, become a Roman citizen? He looks plain and has nothing outstanding about him, yet he is actually a Roman citizen? Paul said: ”But I am a citizen by birth.“ This further aggravated the tribune‘s inferiority complex, and he couldn’t help but ask Paul, ”Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?“ At this time, the tribune could only talk to himself. He said: ”I bought this citizenship for a large sum.“ Let’s look at the third point:
Born Roman citizen
Being a Roman by birth did bring many conveniences to Paul’s preaching in the next four years. From this we can also get a glimpse of God’s wisdom and grace in using our status as sojourners in the world. First, the satisfaction of time and space. What Paul experienced was a product of the larger context of the coming of Christ. Therefore, there is a satisfaction that God has prepared for the time and space conditions for the incarnation of Christ. This includes all aspects of the Roman Empire, such as transportation, politics, military, culture, economy, etc. Paul’s Roman citizenship was also part of this satisfaction. Tarsus in Cilicia, where Paul was born and raised, was located at the junction of Cilicia, Cappadocia, and Syria. It was also the place where Eastern and Western cultures blended. The Roman Empire gave Cilicia preferential treatment to easily win over people’s hearts. This is why it was said that one was born a Roman citizen. Since ancient times, all rulers have pursued personal interests in the name of the people, without exception.
Secondly, possess but despise. Paul was born a Roman citizen, which gave him a sense of superiority and arrogance. Judging from his physical fellowship with Jerusalem, there is no hint of pride or superiority on his part. This is also a good reminder for brothers and sisters in overseas churches. Compared with people inside the wall, people overseas have a higher degree of freedom. Maybe there will be some unnecessary sense of superiority, right? However, we are all strangers in this world, no matter what nationality or identity we hold, we are just vessels used to serve the Lord. Moreover, whether inside or outside the wall, they are essentially the same. Only when the eyes are directed towards the Lord is the purpose, everything else is empty.
Finally, listen and understand. When the tribune discovered that Paul was a Roman citizen, his attitude changed. The tribune was a little scared, and even the torture officer in the barracks left. Probably the tribune wanted to make some compensation. The next day, he unchained Paul “commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.“ This means that what he did yesterday was biased. Today, the tribune must listen and understand, so that both parties in the dispute have a chance to speak. In this way, God gave Paul another opportunity to testify for the Lord. It can be seen from this that God gave Paul the status of a Roman citizen so that he could have the opportunity to bear more witness for the Lord. What about you, dear brothers and sisters, are you making good use of your identity to bear witness for the Lord?
Conclusion
Well, dear brothers and sisters, thank the Lord! This may be a sensitive topic, but God has led us through it. Paul is a Roman citizen, what about you? In fact, the key point is not what identity we have, but whether we use the identity given by God to bear a good witness for the Lord!
Let us pray……
Acts 22:23-30
23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,
24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this.
25 But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?”
26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”
27 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.”
28 The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.”
29 So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.
30 But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.
